There are jokes that circulate about mammography? Have you heard it on the fridge … or the bookends … or garage? Thank you to all the jokes, “mammography” has become a household word, and not because I have no sense of humor, but as a mammography technician, I have heard the jokes many times. I think the jokes are embarrassing and humiliating for women in terms of their physical body. Many women say: “If people had to do this, there would be a better solution” – ie, May or not be true. Most people agree that mammography is not perfect, but until a better solution, I think it is time for mammograms in a different light to see.
In May 1985, and 1986, I asked my doctor to order a mammogram for me and said he refused both times I was too young. There were no centers of screening mammography, which I could refer, if that. In December 1986 at the age of 42 years, I felt a lump in my breast and had a mammogram the same day. It turned out to be Stage II breast cancer with 4 positive nodes. I had a lumpectomy, a mastectomy and chemotherapy but chose not to radiation. Obviously, I was not too young to have cancer.
In May 1985, a mammogram cost less than $ 60.00 and be in my minor surgery led to deal with a small hump. Delaying the diagnosis until December 1986 raised the cost of medical care I received both in dollars and the amount of human suffering we are facing. I say “we”, because the diagnosis of cancer affects the family, friends and community of the person with the disease. A timely mammogram, do we have saved a lot of trouble.
The common perception is that the mammogram is a negative experience, I think it’s a bad reputation. Mammograms are quick and simple chest x-rays, which usually means two views of each breast – one from above and side. They are used by friendly, warned that the technicians do their best undertaken to help women feel comfortable. The goal of engineers is to make better films possible and also to experience how quickly and painlessly as possible.
If people know for a mammogram the most important relaxation of the upper body is the key to a positive experience. I know it’s hard to rest when you are worried, but that’s why I think we need to reduce the public record of this review. It is easy, relaxing few deep breaths before the test. By relaxing your muscles you will be much more comfortable with the test when you are tense. Another advantage is that films are regarded as superior, it will be easier to reverse the image of the breast near the chest wall if the pectoralis muscles are relaxed. When finished, you can say: “It was not hard to hear!”
Some women are embarrassed, a mammogram because they do not want to see people other than their partner and having to touch her breasts. The mammogram jokes add to their fear of pain and embarrassment making it harder for them to manage, and I know that some women avoid mammograms for this reason. The test is done in private, there is a female technologist will be present. Technologists, for the most part, are sensitive people who will be tested quickly and professionally as possible. Many women who have stood the test over a long period, are, can only be amazed how easy and painless.
Mammograms are a compression of the chest with a sheet of plastic to produce high image quality with minimal radiation. Compression of the chest should be tight, but it should not be painful, and it only takes a few seconds. If you think watching a bunch of grapes – it is difficult to see them all in one place. When you spread the grapes, you can get more grapes. Similarly with the use of compression, more breast tissue is visible when the breast is spread. With a flat, thinner fabric, the amount of radiation required is less than if the breast is not compressed. The amount of radiation you get is as low as can be achieved if adequate compression is used, and also, if they have received good quality control in mammography facilities.
In the United States, the cost of a mammogram runs between $ 50 and $ 150.00. There is financial assistance offered by insurance companies, state and local programs, and by some employers. Please do not be discouraged the cost of a mammogram as the cost of a mammogram may not be much higher, both financially and emotionally. Look for information on the Internet.
In most places in Canada, women can have their own appointment for a free book of mammography screening, referral to a physician is not required. In places without a screening program, mammography is available with a prescription from a doctor is covered by health insurance. About 7% of women are invited to further analysis. In most cases, the follow-up audit involves additional mammogram, a different view of breast tissue in a particular area to separate them to get a better picture. In my analogy of the grape is like separated by a few grapes on top of each other and transform them into another way to see them better.
There is controversy about the age women have a mammogram. On a mammogram film, normal breast tissue in younger women, usually appears too thick, normal breast tissue in older women usually turns to fat and is less dense. Reading mammograms on young women is like looking through a tree, the leaves in summer is full. Reading mammograms for older women can be compared on the search through a tree in winter. You can see why reading mammograms on young women is much more complex than reading films on older women and is the main reason why screening mammography is more effective as women mature.
The fear is diagnosed with breast cancer is often a woman of mammography to prevent it. Spread is my personal experience it is much better than before being diagnosed when the cancer has a chance to have. The level of fear, grief, shame, anxiety and emotional not even near a mammogram will be diagnosed with advanced cancer. A mammogram takes about 10 minutes, a cancer can be treated in a reasonable time, while a cancer is advanced much more a time commitment. The level of fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis is astronomical compared to mammography screening.
It is often recommended that women a screening mammogram every two years, but many people believe it is better to have mammograms on an annual basis. It is probably best if women can consult their doctors and decide on an individual basis. A number of factors influence the decision, such as age, family, general health, and problems in previous. Between two dates, if you have a mammogram every year or every two years, it is important to be aware of all the problems of the breast. If you notice anything unusual, it is wise to discuss with your doctor. This applies even if your mammogram was negative because a certain percentage of cancers that do not show on a mammogram are.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation promotes a three-prong approach to breast health:
* Annual clinical breast examination by a physician or trained health care professionals
* Mammography screening
* Monthly Breast Self-Examination
Self-examination of breasts can be a controversial issue. Many people do not recommend self-exams monthly, but many women have found their breast cancer herself this way. The important thing to remember if you need to test themselves, they do it right:
* Learn the correct method of a physician or trained health care professional
* Disciplined and practice regularly
* Beginning in the same period of the menstrual cycle or the same day of each month
* Get to know your normal breast, “Architecture”
* Where do your results, draw dates and
* Take detailed notes of unusual findings including dates
* Please check with your doctor if you see something disturbing
After these steps, you will trust and put in charge of your breast health. Some doctors are concerned that women are unnecessarily alarmed if they have found a problem with her breasts. I think that educated approach to breast care fear that many women living decline, and they can see their doctors more efficiently. Most breast tumors are benign, but worth the early detection of breast cancer is the additional cost of investigating lumps and other unusual findings.
Mammography is a special examination in a certain way. However, it is the gold standard in the present and until there is a better screening method, which is also cost effective, it is useful to have regular mammograms. Detect cancer at an early stage, before it has a chance to spread makes the treatment much easier and the cure rate is much higher. After a mammogram is not meant to be funny or amusing, but a few minutes of discomfort rewards us with the knowledge that we take steps to protect our breast health.